Thomas More scored 60 points in the first half en route to its second road win of the season, downing Piedmont, 117-104. It was the highest point total of the season for TMC, and the third time this season they topped the century mark.
The Lions came out and beat TMC in its own game early, pushing the ball up the court and got easy baskets in opening up a quick eight-point lead. Piedmont's lead would increase to 11 points just seven minutes into the game before the Saints took control of the contest by slowing down the Lions' transition game.
Trailing by 10 points at 8:08, Thomas More embarked on its first double digit run of the first half. The Saints outscored Piedmont 22-9 over the next three minutes to claim a three-point lead. During that stretch, Thomas More scored on 10 consecutive possessions, with six baskets coming off an assist.
Piedmont was reclaim the lead briefly before the Saints' second double digit run of the half. Thomas More closed the half with a 13-2 spurt that gave them a 10-point lead heading into the locker room.
Thomas More seemed to have solved its problems from the free throw line connecting on all six of its attempts in the first half, and hitting 16 straight to start the game.
The second half witnessed Piedmont shrunk the TMC lead to six points on several occasions, but each time Thomas More would answer.
Sophomore Garry Horton (Louisville/Pleasure Ridge Park), making his first start of the season, scored a career-high 21 points, on 7-of-8 shooting and 5-of-5 from the free throw line to lead a contingent of six to reach double figures in scoring. Senior Chad Wachs (Park Hills/Covington Catholic) added 19 points and eight rebounds, while junior R.K. Thurman recorded his eighth double-double and his fifth in six games with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Junior Andrae Woodard (Allensville/Todd County Central) came one assist shy of his first double-double as he chipped in with 12 points, a career-high nine assists and five rebounds. Freshman Jered Ferguson (Flatwoods/Russell) added 14 points, while sophomore Ed Thornton (Cleveland, OH/Villa Angela-St. Joseph) tied his career-high with 10 points.
Thomas More will return to action Wednesday when they host Centre at 7:30 p.m. at Connor Convocation Center. Coincidently, the first time Thomas More scored 100 points, they followed with a loss to these same Colonels, 95-73, on December 11.
Thomas More Saints MEN vs Piedmont College 02/06/05 3 p.m. at Demorest, GA - Mize Athletic Center At Demorest, GA - Mize Athletic Center THOMAS MORE SAINTS MEN 117, PIEDMONT COLLEGE 104 THOMAS MORE SAINTS MEN (7-13) Garry Horton 7-8 5-5 21; Chad Wachs 7-11 7-11 21; R.K. Thurman 7-12 3-6 17; Andrae Woodard 4-9 1-2 12; Jered Ferguson 3-9 6-7 12; Ed Thornton 3-4 4-5 10; Ben Brown 3-5 0-0 9; Michael Selm 3-6 0-0 9; E.J. Haynes 3-6 0-0 6; Brad Cutter 0-0 0-0 0; Hiram Metcalfe 0-0 0-0 0; Stephano Kaiser 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 40-70 26-36 117. PIEDMONT COLLEGE (9-13) Jake Green 6-10 9-12 23; Kyle Kemmerer 7-15 0-0 17; Brent Walker 4-7 8-9 16; David Adcock 4-11 5-7 15; Jake Baldwin 4-7 0-1 9; Michael Adams 3-4 1-3 8; Trey Hightower 3-4 2-2 8; Drew Bailey 2-3 0-0 4; Wesley Parker 1-1 0-0 2; Miles Kendall 1-4 0-0 2; Jeff Belflower 0-0 0-0 0; Caleb Baker 0-6 0-0 0. Totals 35-72 25-34 104. Thomas More Saints MEN........ 60 57 - 117 Piedmont College.............. 50 54 - 104 3-point goals-Thomas More Saints MEN 11-23 (Michael Selm 3-6; Ben Brown 3-5; Andrae Woodard 3-6; Garry Horton 2-3; Ed Thornton 0-1; Jered Ferguson 0-2), Piedmont College 9-29 (Kyle Kemmerer 3-8; David Adcock 2-6; Jake Green 2-5; Michael Adams 1-1; Jake Baldwin 1-1; Miles Kendall 0-2; Caleb Baker 0-5; Drew Bailey 0-1). Fouled out--Thomas More Saints MEN-Garry Horton, Piedmont College-Miles Kendall. Rebounds-Thomas More Saints MEN 46 (R.K. Thurman 12), Piedmont College 30 (Kyle Kemmerer 5; Brent Walker 5). Assists-Thomas More Saints MEN 27 (Andrae Woodard 9), Piedmont College 10 (Jake Green 3; Michael Adams 3). Total fouls-Thomas More Saints MEN 28, Piedmont College 29. A-325